Nov. 15, 2012

OXFORD, Miss. – Two-time Florida First Team All-State selection Emily Gaitan is the first member of the 2013 class to sign to play softball at Ole Miss, head coach Windy Thees announced Thursday.

Gaitan, a pitcher, will enroll at Ole Miss in January after graduating high school early, and will practice with the team this season before playing for the Rebels in the 2014 season.

“Emily is a very talented pitcher who has pitched for one of the country's best teams the past few years,” Thees said. “She has great movement on all of her pitches and switches her speeds incredibly well for a pitcher her age. I am really excited to have Emily graduate early and work with our team all spring. I think this time will give her advantage for her four-year career here starting in the fall of 2013.”

A Tampa, Fla., native, Gaitan attended Riverview High School, where she was a First Team All-State selection as a sophomore and junior. Named the team MVP, Gaitan helped lead Riverview to a district championship and regional semifinal appearance, all while placing academically on the honor roll.

The daughter of Lance and Christine Gaitan, Emily played club softball for the Beverly Bandits (Ill.) and Team FLA. In 2010, Emily and Team FLA placed third at the ASA Gold Nationals, and her Beverly Bandits team finished fifth at the Premier Nationals

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